Posts tagged with: writer’s journey

Many of us grew up reciting nursery rhymes from Mother Goose. The other day I was thinking about how chaotic the writing life sometimes is. We live from deadline to deadline or feel like we’re stuck on an assembly line that slowly picks up speed. It’s easy to keep up at first, but pretty soon it gets harder and harder, until one day we burn out. Or lose the love. There’s no happy-ever-after, if you lose the love.

Enter Mother Goose and her rhymes. I was listening to a radio program, and someone mentioned the Pat-a-Cake rhyme. There are different versions of it, but this is the one I recited with my kiddos when they were little:

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Roll it and pat it and mark it with a “B”
And throw it in the oven for baby and me.

Well, I’m on deadline (imagine that!) and started inserting “write me a book as fast as you can” in place of baking cakes. And it struck home. Hard. That’s how I approach writing. Write that book as fast as you can. And write the next one even faster. So here’s my corny and not-so-funny version of the rhyme:

Plot-a-book, plot-a-book, writer man.
Write me a book as fast as you can;
Craft it and type it and mark it with “The End”
And start it all again…before you hit “send.”

Isn’t that how we feel sometimes? Like we just need to crank that book out in a hurry, because there’s another one in line waiting to be written. And soon, it turns into a scene from Lucy and the chocolate factory:

So I’m not coming to you with advice. Or candies wrapped in neat little packages. I just want to say that sometimes writing is messy. And hard. And there are times I just want to sweep those chocolates off the belt and start from scratch. Oh, and remember that deadline I mentioned? Well, that book was due…yesterday!

I know week three has come and gone. Crazy, isn’t it? Didn’t we just get started?

If you’re like me, you may have had some set backs. Weekends are particularly tough for me because, um, family. They’re so demanding. They like to be fed and have clean clothes and stuff. And, if I’m being honest, I’ve been binge-watching Game of Thrones and addictions to television programs can also be demanding. They call to me – “Liz, come sit down for thirty minutes. Half an episode, that’s all…” and five hours later I’m staggering to the fridge for more Halo Top ice cream and feeling that old familiar guilt – the you’re-supposed-to-be-writing guilt.

But that’s okay because I’m still going. It’s like a diet. You fall off and eat half a piece of chocolate cake, but the next day you have a salad. I’ve been eating my salads, too, and to date have added 14K to my WIP during the past three weeks. That’s pretty darn good. <Blowing on my knuckles and wiping them on my shirt.>

So don’t worry if you’ve been distracted or commandeered by other issues like the flu, the day job or Netflix, we’re still in this, friends, no matter how successful or unsuccessful you’ve been over the past three weeks.

Here are some things you can do to up your game:

Set aside a particular time to write…and stick to it

Visit the chatroom. Hands down this is the best way to WWF. I’m serious. Go to the chatroom.

Ignore your inner editor

Or not. Progress is progress even if you must stop mid-book and return to the beginning to make sure your not wasting words. (Admission: this is what I had to do)

Indulge your muse. If you’re stuck, take a walk, read a book or listen to inspiring music

Or do. Sometimes you have to get real with yourself and recommit to your writing. That book ain’t gonna write itself.

So time to check in. If you’ve made your goal for the week, type I MADE MY GOAL in all caps at the beginning of your post. We’re going to do back flips (not real ones because most of us are too old for that…or maybe it’s just me that’s too old). But if you didn’t reach your goal, you’re still invited to tell us what’s going on. This isn’t about wagging our fingers at anyone. Nope. Not here.

A few weeks ago I as I rolled through the flat, hot backwoods of Louisiana, a song by Jason Aldean came on the radio – “Crazy Town.” Now if you’re a country music fan, you’ve probably heard it. As I listened to the words, it occurred to me that while I don’t live in Nashville, I exist in a pretty crazy, confusing, heartbreaking, soul stirring world of publication.

Now, some of you might not be published yet, and that’s cool because if you’re a smart writer, you’re paying attention to what’s happening every month, week and day in the publishing world. And if you’re smart writer (or even if you’re not so smart) you know that no one can make much sense of how to break into the big leagues anymore than those singer songwriters in Nashville playing night after night wondering why their ship doesn’t crash into the dock…yesterday.

I’ve wasted more time than I care to admit wondering this sort of thing myself. Where’s my ship? When’s it coming in? Do they know what pier I’m on? Cause I’ve been waiting a little while now and…where the hell is it?

As you may sense, I’m not so patient. LOL.

Recently I had the luck of catching the eye of a pretty good writer. She read my book The Sweetest September when it finaled in the Rita Awards a few years back. She was very complimentary, which we all know lifts us a little bit higher off the ground when we walk, and she was kind enough to mention my books to her friends….her writing friends. And they, in turn, read the book. One such writer was one who is known to populate the NYT Bestseller lists, and she reached out to me to ask a bit about my journey, and we’ve formed a friendship. Which is cool, right?

Absolutely.

Because the cool thing about having this accomplished writer as a friend is the invaluable advice I get. I’m telling you guys, I rubbed my hands together, greedily awaiting the magic advice that would get me over the hump, that would thrust me into the next level of the business. My name would be in lights…or at least in the Barnes and Noble, for cripe’s sake. But you know what her advice was?

Be patient.

Yes, be patient.

In a world scrambling to write faster, write more, market more, form a FB group, get a tribe, get a loss leader, run a sale, get a Bookbub, don’t wait to promote, another newsletter, giveaway, giveaway, write a novella….do you have a loss leader???? this writer is telling me to be patient and write good books. That’s her advice. In a nutshell (help! I’m in a nutshell). And you know, it sort of hit me upside the head.

Because I’m always trying to figure out how to do better with my sales. Are you?

I bet you are.

But the thing is, we can chase our tails until we fall out, flat exhausted on the floor, with not much to show for it. See, this writer reminded me of something I’ve always said (that may only make sense to me) but is my motto – the story is the thing.

You’re like, okay, yeah, so, you still gotta do stuff outside of writing a good book. And you’re right, but what I’m advocating is not tossing out your newsletter or running from FB parties, I’m saying that you have to write good books, you have to be patient and you have to be ready for success IF it happens. Because the fact is, for most of us, we won’t be wildly successful. That’s just fact. So all that stuff we panic about, the stuff we wonder if we should be doing, can actually be harmful to the thing that is THE MOST IMPORTANT and that’s the actual writing.

While my son was at tutoring last week, I picked up a copy of The Naked Writer by Jennifer Probst. Often I browse the romance section and then invariably wander over to the writing section. I love that section. It’s like coming home in one way. I know I belong in that writing section because I’m a writer. Most of the time I don’t buy, but over the past month, I’ve entered this philosophical tough, pissed off girl stage where I’m just mad about my situation. It’s not a bad situation, but still I chafe at the constraints. I can’t make people buy my books, I can’t make my publisher give me promotions, I can’t make myself a success. I just can’t. And that’s pissed me off. Because I should be doing something. Maybe a Goodreads giveaway? Anyway, because I’m in this weird mood, I bought this book. This morning I read the first chapter. Damn, but it was good. It pulls together exactly what it is to be a writer. The story is the thing. And only I can write my story. In my room. By myself. With my computer (and coffee…let’s be real about that).

So what am I telling you? I know you’re wondering. Well, I’m saying you will go through times where you panic because you feel like you can’t keep up. You will go through times where you feel impatient, antsy, pissed off. You will doubt yourself, hate your friends (even though you love them), bow to buying 500 purple pens because surely that will sell more books, but in the end know that this is part of being in a crazy, changing business.

But when it gets too noisy, chuck the crap and focus on what’s important – the writing. In the words of Jason Aldean (or whoever wrote the song) “We love it, we hate, it, we’re all just trying to make it. In this crazy town.”

Confession: I forgot what day today was. Literally forgot it was Thursday; thought it was Wednesday and I’d have another day to write a blog post. And since I spend the bulk of Thursday night (and Wednesday morning) at the animal shelter, I didn’t have much time to think of fresh content. Luckily, I found this intriguing little self-reflective post from 2009 when I was undergoing a significant physical problem that challenged my identity and had me wondering how a character’s physical appearance impacts their emotional life.

It’s awfully cute and a little bit painful. My dad was still alive back then; my son wasn’t even conceived! Life was simpler, and I was honestly a different person with very different priorities and goals. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself so many, many things…

Many of you know that I had shoulder surgery last January [2009] to repair a ring of detached cartilage and muscle, a volleyball-induced mess that had been keeping me from all of my favorite hobbies and a chunk of my duties as a zookeeper. Though I didn’t know the extent of the injury before the surgery, I’d hoped the surgeon would provide a relatively quick fix—the most likely procedure would require a three-month healing period plus another six to nine months of rehabilitation. It didn’t sound too bad. I felt obligated to quit zookeeping, though, just before the surgery. I couldn’t see a way around it, and besides, wouldn’t it be nice to spend the year of recovery writing?

If you’re serious about the craft and business of writing, you need to invest in yourself and your products. And if you’re earning revenue, you must keep track of earnings. Uncle Sam agrees. I am not an accountant or tax professional, and I am not offering any financial or tax advice. My goal is to encourage you to be aware of your expenses and revenue streams, even if you are just starting out. Why? Money motivates. 🙂

The benefits: Setting aside money for craft books or writing workshops will encourage you to work on your craft. Going to conferences will expose you to industry professionals such as agents, editors, cover artists, etc. Your tax adviser can also talk to you about deductions. Finally, putting figures down on paper is a statement of serious intent. Yay, you!

Your #2 Assignment: Identify income for 2017.

On that same spreadsheet, identify potential revenue streams such as royalties, advances, speaking honorariums, freelance work, etc. As money comes in, record it.

The benefits: You might identify some unexpected revenue streams. In addition, it’s cause to celebrate. Millions of people talk about “writing a book”, a tiny percentage of those actually do it, and a minuscule number of that subset make any money off their writing. This is a tough biz, my friends, and I applaud all of you who have earned money from it!

While budgeting isn’t too sexy, finding ways to empower our writing is. In the comment section below, tell us about one great investment you’ve made in your writing career. Might be a craft book, research trip, conference, or whiz-bang website. Write on!

This is Part 6 of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood’s series, Write On 2017! A Writer’s Guide to Prioritizing, Goal Setting and Time Management. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

Shelley Coriell is an award-winning author of mysteries, romantic thrillers, and novels for teens. Her debut thriller was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year, and her other novels have been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Paperback Original of the Year from the International Thriller Writers, and a Kirkus Recommended Read. A former magazine editor and restaurant reviewer, Shelley lives in Arizona with her family and the world’s neediest rescue weimaraner. You can find her at www.shelleycoriell.com and Twittering @ShelleyCoriell.

I want all of you to picture yourself on a boat. Any boat. Any body of water. Might be sailboat on the ocean or a kayak on white water rapids. This boat represents you on your writing journey.

Are you in your boat? Good. Because it’s time for the next installment of our Write On 2017! series, which explores ways to help you stay on course and on fire about your writing. Today’s topic: things that propel your writing, hinder your writing, and yes, sink the dang boat. We’ll call these Strengths and Weaknesses.

Your Assignment: Identify your writing strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s start with your strengths. Picture you and your boat moving effortlessly through the water. You have sunny skies, good winds, and plenty of fuel in the tank. Now identify specific reasons why you are making such amazing headway in your boat (writing career). In other words, list your writing strengths. Here’s our Write On! worksheet if you need one. Don’t be modest. Hint: Look at the craft of writing, business of writing, and personal/writer’s life.

For example, strengths can include things like:
* I am good at world building.
* I write engaging and natural dialogue.
* My family supports my writing.
* I have robust social media accounts with daily interaction.

Now picture yourself in that same boat. You’re getting battered by wind and rain. You’re taking on water. The sharks are circling. Take a few minutes and identify specific things that hinder your writing career, especially those that have the potential to sink your boat. Hint: Look at the craft of writing, business of writing, and personal/writer’s life.

Weaknesses can include things like:
* I struggle with pacing. My stories are sluggish and bloated.
* I start stories but don’t finish them.
* I am in a toxic writing group.
* I spend too much time on social media and not enough writing.

Why this exercise? It’s important to know your strengths so you can exploit them. For example, if you’re good at writing dialogue and you’re having a tough writing day where the words just aren’t flowing, by all means, start writing dialogue! Also, when you’re facing down that big, burly Doubt Monster, acknowledging your strengths is like lobbing hand grenades at the beast. Knowing your weaknesses will help you identify concerns that can undermine your career. If you struggle with plotting, get yourself craft books on plot. If you’re having a hard time getting into a regular writing routine, get yourself an accountability partner. One more thing…knowing your weaknesses will help you determine goals, which will discuss next week. 🙂

In the comment section below, list one weakness that you want to work on in 2017, and as a community we’ll brainstorm fix-it strategies. Got that? This is an interactive exercise where you’re invited to post creative and constructive suggestions for your fellow writers. The last time I did with exercise with a class, one author said she got stuck on a writing project because she had to do research and she hated research. The class brainstormed a number of ideas, ranging from “hire someone to do the research” to “reward yourself with a chocolate sundae every time you researched a sticking point.” Looking forward to brainstorming below. Write on!

This is Part 4 of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood’s series, Write On 2017! A Writer’s Guide to Prioritizing, Goal Setting and Time Management. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Photo: CC Image courtesy of Ken Teegardin on Flickr

Shelley Coriell is an award-winning author of mysteries, romantic thrillers, and novels for teens. Her debut thriller was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year, and her other novels have been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Paperback Original of the Year from the International Thriller Writers, and a Kirkus Recommended Read. A former magazine editor and restaurant reviewer, Shelley lives in Arizona with her family and the world’s neediest rescue weimaraner. You can find her at www.shelleycoriell.com and Twittering @ShelleyCoriell.

Every Monday I volunteer at a house of hospitality for pregnant and newly parenting women. Essentially, it’s a homeless shelter. Many of our moms have no family support or are newly released from jail or battling addiction.

One of the first things our moms do once they arrive at the house is put together a vision board. On this vision board they place words and images of what they want in their futures. For most of these women, this is the first time they’ve done “vision” work. Their reality: it’s hard to think about the future when you’re looking for your next meal or fix.

I love listening to our moms talk about the things on their vision boards, everything from graduation caps to shiny new baby cribs to words like SOBRIETY in giant letters. I love to see the looks on their faces as they picture a better life for them and their sweet little newborn babies. I feel their anxiety, excitement, and, above all, hope.

Visions are powerful tools.

Today in our Write On 2017! series, we’re going to talk about visions and how you can craft and use a vision to motivate you and guide your writing career. Simply put, a vision defines the desired or intended future state of your business. Remember when we talked last week about missions? Missions INSPIRE; visions are what you ASPIRE to.

What makes a great vision? Visions are short, no more than a couple of sentences. They clearly outline your overall future aspirations without providing details of how those aspirations will be reached. And unlike missions, visions will and should change as you reach new milestones or change direction.

Some big-biz examples:

The earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. (Amazon)

We will be the model for high quality journalism in the 21st century, strengthening the cultural, civic and social fabric of our democracy. (NPR)

The world’s beer company. Through all of our products, services and relationships, we will add to life’s enjoyment. (ANHEUSER-BUSCH)

Your Assignment: Craft your vision statement.

Time to have some fun with this one. Get yourself in a quiet, thoughtful state of mind. When I give this workshop in person, I’ll turn off the lights and let the room settle into a nice, peaceful silence. Ready?

Close your eyes and envision your writing career FIVE years from now. What are you writing? Who is surrounding you? What is your financial situation? What is your state of mind? How is your health? Your spirits?

Close your eyes and envision your writing career TEN years from now. Has anything changed? (It’s okay if it changes…or not. My goal is to help you deepen your thought process.)

Now write “I am _____________________” and fill in the blank. Don’t worry if you need two or three sentences to list your aspirations. Once you get the thoughts down, you can narrow your focus. Or not. 🙂

Here’s my vision: I am a best-selling author who creates compelling stories that touch the hearts of my dedicated readers. A bit simple and not-too-sexy, but right now that’s how I visualize my future. Likewise, your vision must be you; it must come from a deep and true place.

This is Part 3 of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood’s series, Write On 2017! A Writer’s Guide to Prioritizing, Goal Setting and Time Management. Part 1 here. Part 2 here. Image via Wiki Commons By Evan-Amos – Own work, Public Domain.

Shelley Coriell is an award-winning author of mysteries, romantic thrillers, and novels for teens. Her debut thriller was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year, and her other novels have been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Paperback Original of the Year from the International Thriller Writers, and a Kirkus Recommended Read. A former magazine editor and restaurant reviewer, Shelley lives in Arizona with her family and the world’s neediest rescue weimaraner. You can find her at www.shelleycoriell.com and Twittering @ShelleyCoriell.

This is a republished blog posted here on the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood as Closet Writers that was felt by many of our readers. I hope it will connect with a few more as we go into a new year.

Closet writers break my heart. Any reason a writer keeps their writing a secret is just wrong, unless the writing is extremely personal and not meant for other’s eyes. I was a closet writer.

There are many reasons why writers remain in the closet and the Rubies have had discussions concerning them. At some time or another, many of us have faced the road-blocks that kept us from being us.

Some writers think they haven’t read enough books to be considered a writing expert. In their minds, if people find out they write, they must’ve read every single book ever published. I’m here to tell you that I’ve never read Huck Finn, War and Peace, Fifty Shades Of Gray or a zillion other classic or best-selling books. Does that confession make me less of a writer? I think not.

Being shy, it can take years for some people to join a writer’s group. A long, long time ago, when the internet was young and a thing called dial-up was used to connect to it, writers actually went to public meetings to connect with those of like minds. Walking into a meeting can be daunting to a wall flower. I know because I’m an introvert. The internet and the ambiguity it provides, has made it easier for some writers to connect to others, but not all. They remain in the background, unsure of themselves. To them, I say, “it’s always the quiet ones who make the biggest impression when they’re ready.” Rest assured most writers are genuinely nice and more than willing to help other writers in any way they can. You only need to be serious about the craft to be considered a writer by them.

A closet writer might feel they don’t know enough about the craft and until they know all there is to know they remain in seclusion. I’m not sure if there is anyone out there who knows it all. Well, maybe King, Patterson or Nora. Only they can answer that question. The point being, the majority of writers will openly admit that they don’t know everything and that they learn something new all the time. Join the club that strives to be better at their craft.

My writing sucks. It very well could, but are you the best judge? You’ve read and studied and wrote and edited. Now it’s time to trust yourself and share your work. If a critique offers constructive advice, weigh it, and then accept it or not. In the end, it’s your story. There is no greater joy for a writer than when a reader enjoys your work. The only way to know that joy is to share your gift.

There are those who really, really want to be a writer but struggle to do the work required. Writing is hard work and takes a huge amount of time. Completing a work is possible a word at a time. Commit to the work, or perhaps another hobby would be better for you.

I’m fortunate. I’m a writer who has had the support of family and friends for many years, but that wasn’t always the case. I once was a closet writer. I was told that my dreams of becoming a published writer were stupid and thus I hid my passion. Now, when I read the notebooks I filled during that time, I cringe at the darkness that shadowed my life.

One day, I finally broke and said to myself, “This is my life and I don’t want to look back and wonder what if I’d taken one step. Would my dreams have come true?” That was a year of change for me on many levels. It was a hard trial but through it I learned I had the support of many family members. I read craft books. I joined a writer’s group. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I attended conferences and workshops. I found more support through my writer friends. I met the man of my dreams and he became my biggest supporter. I will love him forever for letting me be me.

Life doesn’t give us do-overs, but it does give us second chances. Take the step toward being you.

Autumn Jordon is the award-winning author of Perfect and Perfect Hearts. She enjoys writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense and thrillers/mysteries. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.autumnjordon.com and be entered into members only contests.

It could happen to any of us. In fact, I’m certain it’s happened to a number of us. This year, it happened to me. I won’t say “writer’s block,” because that’s not quite right. It was a sense of disillusionment, I guess. A crisis of faith (that the stories wouldn’t come to me anymore). A frustration and tiredness that seemed to seep into my soul and sit there, filling me up so that no words could break through and get to the paper. Or so it seemed most days.

It started earlier this year, and I pushed through it for months to meet the deadlines I’d already set up. Then I took the summer off, hoping to “refill the well” or “rediscover my passion” or whatever you want to call it. When school resumed for my three kiddos, I was doing better, creatively speaking, but not up to my earlier level of productivity. And so the cycle of disappointment (in myself) continued. I missed feeling productive, valued, and valuable. The summer months I took off were spent watching movies and reading books, trying to study the craft of storytelling. That helped me feel as if I weren’t simply wasting time. Not having deadlines helped, too. But I still wasn’t recapturing the joy.

One “productive” writing-related thing I managed to do over the last couple months is read. For pleasure and for personal growth. Not to get too religious here, but I pulled on some advice that I’d heard in my catechism classes…when in doubt or feeling lost, flip to any random page in the Bible and read. You’ll find something to inspire you. I decided to apply that advice to my bookshelf full of books on the craft of writing.

The book I pulled most recently was one I haven’t read in about a decade. It was one of the earliest books I’d picked up on craft, and I can’t even remember where I originally heard or read the recommendation, but I’m glad I did. And I’m probably getting more out of re-reading the book now than I did before I had written a dozen manuscripts.

The book? Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

The author’s sarcastic sense of humor and her advice for pumping out a messy first draft, polishing the second and third, etc., fit my personality as well as my style of writing. And as I read on, I felt like she was in my head. She knew what it was like to want to be a writer, but feel like you had no words. She spoke of writer’s block as an “emptiness” rather than something blocking the writer. I related to that. I felt used up and wrung out (mostly by other things going on in my life), and in desperate need of something to fill me back up.

The “bird by bird” reference came from something her parents told her brother when he procrastinated on a big report that he’d been given three months to complete, and now it was due the next day. He was, understandably, completely overwhelmed at the prospect of writing this report. It was supposed to be about birds, and so her parents told her brother to take it “bird by bird.” That’s the only way to accomplish anything or get anywhere. One step, one word at a time.

The book is over 20 years old, and some of the references are outdated (such as how research was done pre-Internet explosion), but the stories of writers struggling with words is timeless, and it’s important to me to remember that. Writers go through struggles with their craft, just as any other artist does. And this too shall pass.

I’ll send cyber hugs to the writers out there who are struggling, and gratitude to those who currently aren’t (because there is inspiration in seeing others do well!). In the meantime, I thought I’d share what I got from this book.

1.) I don’t have to do it all right now.

Lamott says when one is overwhelmed with the idea of writing, break it into “short assignments.” She keeps a 1-inch-square picture frame to remind her that “all I have to do is to write down as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame.” She quotes E. L. Doctorow, who said “writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” Though I’m normally a plotter (or, at the very least, a “plantster”), I’ve had difficulty planning too far ahead this year, and these tidbits were extremely comforting to me. I just need to take things “bird by bird.” I went to Michael’s and found a 2×2 picture frame ornament and hung it at my writing desk to remind me to take things just a piece at a time. (Inside, I put a post-it that reminds me of the two things a story/scene needs to have: Emotion and Motion. And yes, that’s a Wonder Woman mug next to it—another source of inspiration. 🙂 )

2.) Remember that my first draft can suck.

Lamott calls it the “down draft,” as in “just get it down.” And the second draft is the “up draft,” where you fix it up. I think I let my perfectionist out of her cage too much, and need to remind myself that the sentences don’t come out perfect the first time. And they don’t have to. (BTW, Lamott has a chapter on “perfectionism” too, and it’s fabulous!)

3.) Remember the value in what I write.

I write romance. Lamott, as far as I know, does not. However, she states at one point (when talking about characters) that “there’s no point in writing hopeless novels. We all know we’re going to die, what’s important is the kind of men and women we are in the face of this.” Besides, as she notes, “you wouldn’t be a writer if reading hadn’t enriched your soul as much as other pursuits.” So books are important. What I write IS IMPORTANT. So I should keep doing it, right?

4.) “Plot grows out of character.”

So focus on the characters and let them tell the story their way. This takes the pressure off. I just have to be the conduit. I’m just the “designated typist” and the “holder of the lantern,” to use Lamott’s analogies.

5.) Listen to my broccoli.

Lamott references a Mel Brooks routine where a psychiatrist tells his patient, “Listen to your broccoli, and your broccoli will tell you how to eat it.” Meaning, if I don’t know what a character should do, I need to try to be quiet and listen to him/her. Or to that voice inside me. Lately, things have seemed so crazy and, well, LOUD in my life. Getting to that quiet place where I can listen to my writer’s voice is important, and I’m working on that. I want to know what that broccoli has to say! It’s full of vitamins and good stuff. These vitamins build confidence. This has been a tough one for me, particularly in 2016. Lamott recommends trusting yourself. Being on your own side (“militantly”). Stopping the chatter of doubt leaves space for getting a writer’s intuition back. And man, I need to hear that. To have hope for that. Whether it be broccoli or some other metaphor, I need to find that part inside of me and listen to it.

6.) Use rituals to get into my story/writing.

Whether it’s making my coffee and checking email and then sitting at my desk or in a special place to write by a certain time, having a ritual can trick your brain into being ready to write. I lost my rituals recently when things in my life got kind of shaken up, and am working to reestablish them or create new ones.

7.) Writer’s Block is normal.

“The fear that you’ll never write again is going to hit you when you feel not only lost and unable to find a few little bread crumbs that would identify the path you were on but also when you’re at your lowest ebb of energy and faith.”

Yes. This. A thousand times this.

Lamont speaks of hopelessness and feeling bleak, and it helped me immensely to understand I wasn’t alone in these feelings.

The part I underlined was this: “The word block suggests that you are constipated or stuck, when the truth is that you’re empty.” And she advises to get a page of “anything” written. Doesn’t matter what. On bad days or weeks, let it go at that. Don’t pressure yourself. And to think, what if I was dying tomorrow? What would I spend today doing? And then go do things that will fill me back up. “It helps to resign as the controller of your fate.” Everything we need to write a story is inside, and we have to wait until our consciousness is ready to hand it up to us. “Your unconscious can’t work when you are breathing down its neck.”

8.) Find inner peace.

According to Lamott, this can’t be found in the world. The world can’t give it to us. It’s in our hearts, and sometimes we have to search to find it there. “But the good news is that by the same token, the world can’t take it away.”

There are so many other tips in this book, everything from jealousy to taking note of one’s surroundings to dealing with critics and being in critique groups to what it’s truly like to be published (a.k.a., it’s not the nirvana writers long for). I found a lot of comfort from Bird by Bird, and felt rejuvenated and focused after reading it (perfect timing for NaNo!). I highly recommend it to any writer.

If you’re interested in the book, here are a few places you can find it:

I’m going to go sit at my desk and listen to my broccoli. And continue to fill up the emptiness (which, thankfully, seems less empty every day). My next craft book re-visit is Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. I can’t wait to see what bits of wisdom I rediscover there. In the meantime, happy writing to you all!

What books seemed to have jumped off the shelves when you needed them most (hint: they don’t have to be nonfiction or even craft-related!)?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Marie has always been fascinated by people—inside and out—which led to degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Counseling. Her passion for understanding the human race is now satisfied by her roles as mother, wife, daughter, sister, and award-winning author of romantic suspense.

She writes to reclaim her sanity.

Find ways to connect with Anne Marie at www.AnneMarieBecker.com. There, sign up for her newsletter to receive the latest information regarding books, appearances, and giveaways.

Carrie is a hardy New Englander transplanted to the deep South, where two inches of snow can bring a city like Atlanta to its knees. She loves to travel, is addicted to British crime dramas and knows a Seinfeld quote appropriate for every occasion. Carrie’s characters, much like her family, often ignore the wisdom and guidance she lovingly offers.

Here’s a bit about RESCUING RILEY:

On mandatory medical leave, Marine Corporal Riley Cooper returns to his childhood haven, Loon Lake. All his fond memories revolved around summers here with his grandmother and the McBride family next door. All his fantasies involve Meg McBride – the girl next door, his best friend’s sister – and their one night of passion before he was deployed.

Megan McBride has returned to Loon Lake, too. Though not for the summer. She’s a permanent resident, looking to open a new chapter of her life. She has a lot to consider, how to make ends meet in the small community, where she wants to raise her daughter, Fiona, how to deal with life as a single mother, and how to finally give up on Riley Cooper.

Soon Riley has a lot more to deal with than his injuries. Meg is more beautiful than ever and angrier than he ever expected. Every time he tries to help her, he ends up making things worse. And then he meets her daughter – a little girl with her hair and his eyes. How is he ever going to prove to Meg that he deserves a second chance?

And she’s here today with her own story about hope and persistence that will ring true for (and inspire) many writers.

Take it away, Carrie!!

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The Long and Winding Road that Led to the GH Final

I have wanted to be a writer from the moment I picked up a crayon. The road to my GH Final has been long, slow process. As a newlywed, I wrote a romance and sent it off to Harlequin. Because I’ve been married since the Dark Ages, I had to box up my printed pages (printed on 25 lb bond, mind you) schlep it to the post office, purchase something called International Reply Coupons—the equivalent of a SASE so the editor could write back to tell me how my story made her weep with joy. Months passed before I received a form rejection from Toronto. But wait! There was a hand written note from an editor (I still remember her name was Helen something) that said “You’re a good writer but need to find your voice.” I had no idea what she meant, and that story went under the bed with several others.